The Lovers – Tarot card meaning

The Lovers is the sixth card of the Major Arcana set. The first card that is not centred around a central figure, but two instead. As such, there are a whole host of meanings to consider as well as the relationship and love aspect. A great card to draw if you’re looking for love, deep emotional bonds, or understanding and completeness with another being. The Lovers is a good card to draw!

The Lovers in a sentence

Balanced duality, harmony, understand and love all come from this positive card.

The Lovers in a time based position

Past – The Lovers in the Past position means that a previous relationship has grounded you in good stead for the present and future. Not wholly meaning a relationship with a member of the opposite sex, but it should be an aspect that you shouldn’t consider changing for a while. It’s doing good, whether you are single or in a relationship. If you are single, it could represent a strong parental bond or a single close friendship. Perhaps you were raised in a non traditional family, also.

Present – The Lovers in the present position represents a good relationship. You understand each other and are growing together. Both of you are offering two sides of the same coin, a good balance. Think of the Taijitu, you are both separate but retain the other within. Are you arguing with your spouse right now? If it’s about something trivial, just think about it and put it in perspective. If it’s more serious, again, think about it. It’s common when something bad happens to just try not to think about things, to ignore them. Go somewhere alone and do your best to think about every aspect of what happened.

Future – The Lovers in the future position is great if you are single right now. It’s the sort of meaning that anyone can see. Love in the future. The standard tarot response. ‘Things will get better’. Remember in the Bible story; that Adam and Eve were in paradise and were kicked out. Don’t get disheartened.

The Lovers in regards to life issues

Work / Education – The Lovers in regards to work and education can represent a choice. Your heart or your head, usually. Are you choosing a university course? Do you want something with good job prospects, or something that you enjoy deeply? In work, it could mean one of two choices is going to affect your work greatly. Love and work don’t mix well, so if you’re thinking of going with your heart, think about it just to be sure. It may be the right decision.

Romance – The Lovers and romance go hand in hand. You might get swept off your feet (or do the sweeping yourself). This is the best position for The Lovers to come up in. If this has happened, you’d better brace yourself!

Friends – The Lovers in regards to friendship has a similar meaning to romance. You might go on a trip with your best friend, for instance. Depending on how long you’ve known this person, things may also get a bit rocky, especially if it’s been a long time.

Money – The Lovers is not great when it comes to money. Things may be going well, but double check receipts and don’t make any silly purchases. Now isn’t the time to get distracted. Don’t take risks with your money. The power of money is in it’s potentiality, not on a frivolous impulse buy.

Health – The Lovers might indicate the cure for you, especially if you’re feeling lonely. Sometimes you can get so caught up in things that you don’t consider every day problems. Just be sure to keep track of your health. Record things, keep to your caloric intake, exercise. Don’t let one aspect of your life overshadow the others. The concept of Eden is also strong here; a house or home, somewhere you feel safe and where all your needs are seen to. Don’t push yourself if you’re ill.

Spirituality and Mentality – The Lovers could represent a duality here when talking about mentality. You could be in two minds about something, or constantly second guessing. Take some time to calm down. Nothing is as important as you think it is. That isn’t to put down your troubles and belittle them. Consider how you’ll feel about these worries in a years, two years time.

The Meaning and Symbology of The Lovers

The Lovers are illustrated as Adam and Eve, the snake and apple tree are also present. The concept of duality, balance, an ‘two sides of the same coin’ are common concepts in many veins of mysticism. The way the figures are looking, Adam to Eve, Eve to the Angel, the Angel to Adam, suggests the Supernal triangle, Kether, Chokmah and Binah from Qaballic practice. Above the Angel is the sun disc, Ain Soph in Qaballah. The fusion here of these two mythologies further solidifies the Egyptian / Qaballic link.

The Lovers in Reverse

Relating to the harmony of The Lovers, in reverse, The Lovers represents a lack of balance within a relationship. Everything is related to everything else. Relativity is not just a scientific principle, but an emotional and spiritual one too. Look out for a sudden lack of connection, and think about what is causing this. Look for imbalance in your life. Are you giving or taking too much? The Lovers implies balance; they love each other. We cannot survive with imbalance.